Remembrance Day is...

Growing up November 11th was more than just Remembrance Day.It was a day to remind us of a family that would have never been if Grandpa Hicken wasn't protected in the war. When I was younger I looked forward to Grandpa speaking in school about the war...Now I have an 8 year old that is begging me to take him to Canada for Remembrance Day just to hear Great Grandpa speak. Grandpa has this ability to connect with all generations. I am so lucky that my kids know and love him. We took him to our little airport to see the bombers in the spring and I got to sit back and watch Payson entranced by Grandpa's war stories.

I had a very special phone conversation with my Uncle Patrick over a year ago while collecting information for Grandpa's book of remembrance. Over the phone, a very emotional Pat said, "Not too long ago, Dad was listening to my problems. He just said to me in his usual calm voice, 'Well, I never really had any problems in my life, so I just don't know what that would be like.' Here's my Dad, who is a War Hero and lived through a lot and he doesn't think he had any problems. He always looks at the good in everything, and I guess that's why he never felt like he had any problems. I have a zillion good stories about my Dad and couldn't think of even one bad thing. He thinks nothing is a problem, there is always a solution and just continues on and does his very best. I decided if a War Hero could do that, than I guess I can too." Us too, Pat. And that's what Remembrance Day means to me.

Don't forget to have a moment of silence with the Canadians on the 11th minute of the 11th hour, the 11th day of the 11th month!

Happy 8th Birthday Payson

We had the best birthday ever at the Happiest Place on Earth. We decided that we wanted the day to be all about Payson, so we got a babysitter for Hayden and Abbey. Brodie had been working 80 hours a week at this point, so it was a miracle that he was able to make it to Disneyland with us. Earlier in the day, Brodie told Payson that if it rains on your birthday you will have bad lack for seven years! Sorry Payson! We had a great day riding Splash Mountain, Space Mountain and it was decorated for Halloween. It started pouring rain at the end and we literally ran out of the park. We love you Pays, Happy 8th Birthday!

Ode to Echo Lake

Echo Lake in Montana is probably one of my favorite places on the planet. Growing up we spent almost every summer there with our Baldry and Stone cousins. We had Hicken reunions there. I have so many memories of Echo Lake; I love everything about it...starting with the drive there through the Montana mountains, singing Marie Osmond's "Meet Me in Montana" with Christy. Always dreaming that we could stop at the House of Mystery, and one day Dad and Uncle Roger finally giving in. Driving into Kalispell for shopping trips, buying the "HO", yes we had a waterski that was called the "HO". Crying in the middle of the lake while the boat drivers had fun inflicting pain upon us while we road the yellow banana. Going to Big Sky waterslide for the day. Hunting for craw dads at night, Grandpa Hicken popping an entire raw egg in his mouth and chewing it down. Eating Montana cherries until we were sick...Staying in the 4 little fishing cabins...Having sleepovers with Aunt Mo on the trampoline (our parents always brought the trampoline in the boat) And of course we can't forget the "Cheetah", the fastest little boat around. I still remember the day Dad and Uncle Roger told us they were buying a boat. We didn't believe it til we saw it. It was know also as the "Indian Cruiser". Going over Logan's Pass, which, if you've never been, is the most breathtaking drive on the earth... Going over Logan's Pass with a 18 year old Chayston driving the red and black pick up truck ...speeding over the mountain pass and hoping I would survive without plummeting over the edge of the cliff....aaah. (I am not sure how that would impress a girl, but it worked. Darla and Chay have been married for like 17 years or something!) Good times! And I can't forget the drive back...not making it to the US/Canadian border crossing before it closed and popping out the tent trailer right there in the road.

That's why after not going to Echo Lake since I was pregnant with Payson I was so happy to return. We recreated some of those memories with the Hill family this summer and I'm hoping the tradition is alive again!

Hayden announcement

Chareese helped me with this. Thanks Chareese! I decided it was time to get back on the blog wagon.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

When Grandpa Bruce was here in the spring, he had some GREAT ideas. Payson came inside needing the broom...he said he needed it to row his boat. So I went outside to find him and Noah in our big wagon rowing it around the pool. Of course, I yelled, "Payson, get that wagon out of the pool!!!" He said it was Grandpa's idea. Who can argue with that? It provided hours of entertainment. Even Uncle Jesse had a turn. Now we use the wagon as a boat quite often. Good idea Grandpa!

Hayden is born!

Our little Hayden was born on April 17, 2010 at 11:16 PM. She weighed 7 lb 6 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. She looks a little more like Payson did and has dimples (Abbey doesn't have dimples). She has tons of black hair.
Thanks Rebecca for these cute pictures!

Abbey's Obsessions

Two year olds are so entertaining. A while ago I wanted to do a post on Abbey's favorite things. She used to be obsessed with washing her hands. She'd sing "soap, soap, wa-wee" and that meant wash her hands. Her piggy has been her most constant obsession. You know how all the experts say no sleep props? Well, she just uses a few... Her Dora "pilla", 2 piggies, coloring book, the doll that Bronson and Casey got her, a bottle, Dora toy. Is that too many??

She also loves her "clip-clops". It started last summer with a pair of too-big silver flip flops that Auntie Zoe left here. They fit her now and she loves to wear anyones flip flops. She named her scooter "Pink". How creative! She loves to follow the big boys around on their scooters. She loves that thing.

Other obsessions include pouting, hiding behind the couch, and being a drama queen. Anytime Payson and his friends leave, she gets real emotional and says "I missing my friends!" or "My friends blow away". She wouldn't even give Brodie a kiss the other morning and was being kind of snotty, the minute he drove away she got real dramatic saying she's missing her dad! She acted like he was abandoning her.
Yesterday I asked her what she was eating (as I hadn't given her anything!) She said, "I eatin my boogie!" I got a little mad at her, which always makes her close her eyes and stick out her bottom lip. After a few minutes of pouting she hopped off the couch and said, "I no mad no more Mom!" I just love that girl so much!